Sextortion in Pakistan: what it is, what to do, and why you must not pay.

What is sextortion

Sextortion is when someone threatens to share intimate images or videos of you — or images they claim to have — unless you pay money, send more images, or do what they demand. It is a crime in Pakistan under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, Section 21.

How sextortion happens in Pakistan

The most common route

A new contact builds a relationship over days or weeks. They ask for intimate photos or initiate intimate video calls. Once they have material — or claim to — the threats begin. Often the "relationship" was entirely fabricated from the beginning for this purpose.

The video call trap

An unexpected video call from an attractive stranger. The call turns intimate. You're recorded without knowing. Then the blackmail message arrives.

Old relationship material

Intimate images from a previous relationship are used as leverage — either by the ex-partner or by someone who obtained the images from them.

Why you must not pay

This is the most important thing on this page: paying does not end sextortion. Every person who pays confirms that the threat works, and the demands escalate. Sextortionists are professionals — they have a systematic process. Payment moves you to the "confirmed payer" category and the demands increase. The only path that sometimes ends sextortion is removing the leverage by reporting and making clear that payment is not coming.

What to do — step by step

• Stop all contact — block on every platform immediately
• Do not pay — not even once
• Screenshot everything — their profile, all messages, their number, any accounts
• Report to FIA — 0800-02345 or complaint.fia.gov.pk
• Report to the platform — Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp all have sextortion reporting tools
• Tell someone you trust — the shame belongs to the criminal, not to you
• If images are shared — platforms will remove non-consensual intimate images when reported. Each platform has a dedicated process for this.

Pakistan's legal protection

PECA 2016 Section 21 criminalises the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. The penalty is up to 5 years imprisonment and/or a fine of Rs. 5 million. The FIA Cybercrime Wing has prosecuted sextortion cases — but they need your report to act.